# Central Michigan University

Public college in Mount Pleasant, MI. IPEDS ID 169248.
Source page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/central-michigan-university · Data: https://educationguide.com/data/colleges/central-michigan-university.json · Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score

## Key numbers
- Acceptance rate: 90% (Fall 2024, College Scorecard)
- Average net price after grants: $17,597 per year (AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25)
- Graduation rate (6 years): 59%; beats 56% of MI colleges and 60% nationwide
- Median earnings 10 years after starting: $55,874; beats 62% of MI colleges and 59% nationwide
- Median debt at graduation: $23,183

## Net price by family income (per year, after grants)
| Family income | Net price |
|---|---|
| 0-30k | $12,185 |
| 30-48k | $12,139 |
| 48-75k | $13,601 |
| 75-110k | $16,269 |
| 110k+ | $21,403 |

Average after grants for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, in-state. Negative values mean grants exceed cost.

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
Graduates took 4.43 years on average (39% finished in 4 years; Fall 2017 entrants, IPEDS). Earnings gain = $55,874 (median earnings of former students 10 years after starting college (College Scorecard)) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $12,185 | $53,980 | 2.4 years |
| 30-48k | $12,139 | $53,776 | 2.4 years |
| 48-75k | $13,601 | $60,252 | 2.7 years |
| 75-110k | $16,269 | $72,072 | 3.2 years |
| 110k+ | $21,403 | $94,815 | 4.2 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Sticker price
- Cost of attendance: $30,681 in-state; about $30,681 out-of-state
- Tuition and fees: $14,760 in-state, $14,760 out-of-state
- Housing and meals: $12,178; books: $1,240

## Admissions
- SAT reading & writing: 490–610; SAT math: 470–590; ACT: 21–27 (25th–75th percentile, Fall 2024)
- Fall 2023: 18,102 applicants, 16,474 admitted, 2,044 enrolled; test scores considered but not required
- Fall 2024: acceptance 90%, ACT 21–27 (College Scorecard)
- Fall 2023: acceptance 91%, ACT 21–27 (IPEDS Admissions)

### Common Data Set 2025-26 (Fall 2025)
- Very important: rigor, gpa; important: talent; considered: class rank, test scores, essay, recommendations, interview, extracurriculars, character, volunteer, work experience
- Early decision: no; early action: no; waitlist: no
- Average high school GPA of enrolled first-years: 3.48
- Aid (full-time first-years): average 71% of need met; 242 of 1256 with need fully met; merit aid to students without need: 509 students, average $6,303
- Source: https://www.cmich.edu/docs/default-source/academic-affairs-division/academic-administration/academic-planning-analysis/reports-(public)/common-data-sets/cds-2024-2025.pdf?sfvrsn=b0421437_16

## Majors (93 bachelor's majors)
| Major | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management Information Systems | $68,088 | $95,721 | $27,000 |
| Electrical Engineering | $71,457 | $91,542 | $30,000 |
| Computer Science | $74,135 | $89,216 | $27,000 |
| Construction Engineering Technology / Technician | not reported | $86,839 | not reported |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies / Technicians | $64,284 | $86,472 | $30,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $69,862 | $85,196 | $27,000 |
| Drafting / Design Engineering Technologies / Technicians | $63,862 | $84,064 | $28,500 |
| Statistics | not reported | $81,853 | not reported |
| Accounting | $62,430 | $80,551 | $29,000 |
| Finance | $60,023 | $79,906 | $26,672 |
| Management Science / Analytics | $66,149 | $77,768 | $24,250 |
| Marketing | $55,296 | $75,661 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration | $53,605 | $74,113 | $28,000 |
| Human Resources | $50,612 | $73,340 | $27,670 |
| Neuroscience | $28,220 | $73,316 | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $53,539 | $73,112 | $27,000 |
| Health Administration | $44,167 | $67,117 | $27,000 |
| Economics | $48,636 | $65,174 | $27,000 |
| Geography | not reported | $62,999 | $27,000 |
| Speech-Language Pathology / Communication Disorders | $23,752 | $62,082 | $23,992 |
| International Relations | $35,802 | $61,331 | $27,000 |
| Public Relations and Advertising | $40,346 | $59,522 | $27,000 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $49,103 | $58,344 | $33,932 |
| Kinesiology / Exercise Science | $32,850 | $57,771 | $27,000 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $29,203 | $57,513 | $27,000 |
| Biology | $29,792 | $57,438 | $27,000 |
| Geology / Earth Science | $35,235 | $57,438 | $31,000 |
| Legal Studies / Paralegal | not reported | $57,108 | not reported |
| Entrepreneurship | $42,908 | $56,553 | $27,000 |
| Hospitality Management | $37,187 | $56,314 | $29,000 |
| Communications | $31,913 | $55,353 | $27,000 |
| Dietetics | $26,138 | $55,134 | $27,000 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $37,408 | $54,888 | $27,000 |
| Mathematics | not reported | $54,265 | not reported |
| Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design | $36,917 | $54,254 | $28,500 |
| Psychology | $31,166 | $53,422 | $27,000 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $40,333 | $53,353 | $31,000 |
| Social Work | $35,800 | $53,279 | $27,000 |
| Allied Health (Imaging / Therapy / Tech) | $28,651 | $52,311 | $27,000 |
| Political Science | $36,006 | $50,462 | $27,239 |
| Special Education | $46,522 | $50,095 | $31,000 |
| Education (Elementary / Secondary) | $45,225 | $49,677 | $29,000 |
| Rehabilitation / Therapy Sciences | $39,008 | $49,639 | $27,000 |
| Education (Subject Teaching) | $43,996 | $49,588 | $29,000 |
| Spanish / French / Romance Languages | $28,231 | $48,409 | $27,000 |
| Sociology | $28,785 | $48,389 | $28,563 |
| Environmental Science / Conservation | $28,430 | $48,290 | $29,000 |
| Journalism | $25,033 | $47,775 | $27,000 |
| Broadcasting / Digital Media | $29,205 | $46,942 | $27,000 |
| Human Development and Family Studies | $35,318 | $45,881 | $27,209 |
| Theatre | $17,962 | $43,916 | $28,000 |
| Music | $24,911 | $43,089 | $27,975 |
| History | $33,000 | $40,918 | $25,905 |
| Studio Art | $18,117 | $40,181 | $31,000 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | $27,511 | $39,947 | not reported |
| Anthropology | $25,264 | $39,577 | $31,000 |
| English | $25,367 | $39,262 | $27,500 |
| Environmental / Natural Resources Management and Policy | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Ethnic / Gender Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Biomedical Engineering | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Computer Engineering | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Environmental Engineering | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Industrial Production Technologies / Technicians | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| German | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Writing | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Literature | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Liberal Arts / General Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Biochemistry | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Cell / Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Applied Mathematics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Intercultural / Multicultural and Diversity Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Outdoor Education | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Philosophy | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Religious Studies | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Chemistry | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Physics | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Materials Sciences | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Psychology (Clinical / Counseling) | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Criminal Justice | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Public Administration | $46,301 | not reported | $27,500 |
| Social Sciences | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Visual and Performing Arts | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dance | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Public Health | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Nursing | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Business / Corporate Communications | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| International Business | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Real Estate | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Major to career
- Business Administration → Management analyst: median wage not reported (metro), $93,640 (MI), $101,860 (U.S.)
- Marketing → Marketing specialist: median wage not reported (metro), $66,780 (MI), $78,760 (U.S.)

## Sources and years
- Net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; cost of attendance: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; tuition: AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25; earnings: Treasury AY2009-10, AY2010-11 pooled cohort measured in CY2020, CY2021, inflation adjusted to 2022 dollars; debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
- Major earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).